Tracy Porter's Saints career was shorter than most members of the team's Hall of Fame, but good luck finding anyone with a more iconic pair of moments.
The Super Bowl hero, best known for interceptions of Brett Favre and Peyton Manning in the 2009 title run, will enter the team's Hall of Fame this year, alongside Dome Patrol safety Brett Maxie.
“It’s a bit overwhelming," Porter said, "and, you wonder how that is playing in front of 70-plus-thousand every week, but to be recognized by your peers and men and women that you see every single day and they think the highest of you, can’t put a value on that."
This year's honorees will also include the late Ed Daniels, who was named the recipient of this year's Joe Gemelli 'Fleur de Lis' award. Daniels, who covered sports in the New Orleans area for more than five decades, passed away last year after a health issue while out in California to cover the Saints' training camp. The award will be accepted by Ed's wife, Robin.
"Ed loved the Saints and he loved covering the Saints," said Ken Trahan, the CEO of the Saints Hall of Fame and a childhood friend of Daniels.
The Hall of Hame has also introduced a new award this year, the Saints Hall of Fame Courage award. The first recipient will be none other than Steve Gleason, who was on hand for the announcement on Wednesday and offered a brief statement.
"I'm grateful of the example of the people of New Orleans for their courage, and I'm happy to be here with these fellow honorees," Gleason said in a prepared statement.
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The official introduction for Porter and Maxie will be held the weekend of Dec. 14.
Porter played four seasons with the Saints from 2008-'11 after being selected in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Indiana. In 43 career regular season games, the Port Allen native recorded 227 tackles (178 solo), seven interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 37 pass breakups. He also started all six postseason contests he appeared in, posting 34 tackles (28 solo), two interception returns for 100 yards, including one brought back 74 yards to clinch the team’s Super Bowl XLIV victory, one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
Porter also played one season with Denver (2012), one season with Oakland (2013), one season with Washington (2014) and two with Chicago (2015-16).
Maxie was an undrafted free agent that signed with the Saints out of Texas Southern in 1985. He played nine seasons for. In 118 games with 72 starts, Maxie recorded 438 tackles, 15 interception returns for 206 yards with three brought back for touchdowns, three sacks, five fumble recoveries and one special teams stop. He also started all three playoff games, including the first postseason game in franchise history on January 3, 1988, vs. Minnesota.
Below is the full list currently in the Saints Hall of Fame:
1988: Danny Abramowicz & Archie Manning
1989: Tommy Myers & Tom Dempsey
1990: Billy Kilmer
1991: Derland Moore & Tony Gilbreath
1992: Jake Kupp, George Rogers & John Hill
1993: Joe Federspiel
1994: Henry Childs & Jim Finks
1995: Bob Pllard & Doug Atkins
1996: Dave Waymer & Dave Whitsell
1997: Stan Brock & Rickey Jackson
1998: Dalton Hilliard & Sam Mills
1999: Bobby Hebert & Eric Martin
2000: Vaughan Johnson & pat Swilling
2001: Jim Wilks & Hoby Brenner
2002: Frank Warren & Jim Mora
2003: Jim Dombrowski & Wayne Martin
2004: Steve Sidewell & Rueben Mayes
2006: Joel Hildenberg
2007: Joe Johnson
2008: Willie Roaf
2009: Morten Andersen
2010: Joe Horn
2011: Sammy Knight
2012: Tom Benson & Deuce McAllister
2013: La'Roi Glover
2014: John Carney & Aaron Brooks
2015: Tyrone Hughes & Michael Lewis
2016: Will Smith
2017: Carl Nicks & Jonathan Vilma
2018: Lance Moore & Pierre Thomas
2019: Marques Colston & Reggie Bush
2021: Roman Harper & Jahri Evans
2022: Fred McAfee & Devery Henderson
2023: Jabari Greer
2024: Drew Brees
2025: Brett Maxie & Tracy Porter